An Irish-trainer horse bought for just £800 is the odds-on favourite for Saturday's American Grand National to take his career winnings to close to €500,000.
Hewick was purchased for the meagre sum by TJ McDonald and has been a revelation over fences.
Trained by John 'Shark' Hanlon, the seven-year-old won this year's Galway Plate to cap a season that also included a victory in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.
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Last month Hewick was running a huge race in the Kerry Grand National at Listowel when falling at the last fence.
But, none the worse for the fall, the gelding has made the trip to New Jersey to take part in the American Grand National.
Hewick, whose official rating over fences has rocketed from 126 to 163, is the odds-on favourite to win the race in the hands of jockey Jordan Gainford.
Trainer Hanlon told RTE that he is confident of a big run.
“I think he will run brilliant! He’s in quarantine now but he travelled very well. He’s eating – some horses won’t eat or grub up but this horse has done everything right.
"The chap that’s with him said he’s delighted with him, he’s very happy with him.”
“I can’t believe how many Irish people are going to the race. They are texting me and ringing me and emailing me.
"He’s a people’s horse and we will try to keep it that way because without them people we wouldn’t be here.”
Hanlon has previous with spotting a bargain buy. At the 2019 Tattersalls November Sale, he bought Skyace for just £600.
And the mare went on to have a fantastic career, with a win in the Grade 1 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle the highlight.
The Westerner mare won over €100,000 in prize money before being sold by the Birdinthehand Syndicate to TJ McDonald for £80,000 this year, with the plan for the mare to go back into training at Hanlon's.
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